The Noble Peasant

👨‍🌾 The Noble Peasant in North Cyprus – A Monument to the Land and its People

Rising on the hills overlooking Kyrenia (Girne), The Noble Peasant is a planned monumental sculpture intended to become one of North Cyprus’s most iconic landmarks. Designed to honour the hardworking farmers, shepherds, and rural communities that form the backbone of Cypriot life, this 40-metre tall statue is part of a larger vision including a surrounding park and nature museum. Though still under construction and somewhat controversial, its ambition and symbolism capture the imagination of many.
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❓What Is The Noble Peasant?

👉 The project is spearheaded by Erbil Arkin, founder of ARUCAD University of Creative Arts and Design.
👉 It aims to build a 40-metre statue depicting a traditional peasant, in a gesture celebrating the rural culture and heritage of Cypriots.
👉 The design chosen was by Dutch sculptor Lotta Blokker.
👉 The statue is set to be placed on a hill south of Kyrenia, with the Five Finger Mountains (Beşparmak) forming a dramatic backdrop.
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🌳 The Park & Museum

• Accompanying the statue is The Noble Peasant Park, a space of over 23 hectares designed to combine formal landscaped gardens near the statue with semi-wild biomes in the wider hillside.
• A planned Museum of Nature / Cyprus Nature Museum will be part of the complex, nestled under the statue, to educate visitors about the natural habitat, flora, fauna, and environmental heritage of the island.
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✨ Symbolism & Cultural Impact

⭐ The statue is conceived as a homage to the “ordinary folk” — peasants and rural communities — who once made up much of Cypriot society.

⭐ It’s intended as a unifying symbol, transcending political, cultural, and community divides, particularly in a country with a divided past.

⭐ However, the project is not without controversy. Concerns have been raised about environmental impact, the size of the statue, and its visibility from certain key locations.
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🤔 Status & Controversy

🏗️ As of the latest reports, The Noble Peasant statue is under construction. It is in the process of being built; the area around it is being landscaped.

🏛️ Some local authorities (e.g. Kyrenia municipality) have objected to the project, citing issues of property, environmental regulation, and concerns that such monuments should have broader community approval.

🤝 The project has drawn both support and criticism — supporters see it as a cultural and touristic asset; critics worry about cost, environmental disturbance, and symbolism.
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🧳Visiting (Current & Future)

Since the statue is not fully completed, visiting is currently about viewing the site and watching its progress from vantage points near Kyrenia. Once completed:

• It will likely become a tourist destination with guided access, viewpoints, gardens, and the museum.
• The park surrounding it will offer walking paths, nature biomes, and scenic overlooks.
• Best times for views and photographs will be early morning and late afternoon, when the light enhances the statue against the mountains and sea.
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🧭 Nearby Attractions

While planning a visit or drive around the area, these places are nearby:

• Kyrenia Harbour and Town — a charming old harbour full of restaurants, shops, and history.
• The Five Finger Mountains — great for hikes and scenic drives.
• Bellapais Abbey — beautiful Gothic monastery not too far away, offering stunning views.
• St Hilarion Castle — for dramatic castle ruins and panoramic views.
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🎯 Why The Noble Peasant Matters

✅ Cultural Identity: It’s one of the first large-scale monuments meant to represent the peasant class in Cyprus, honoring rural roots.

✅ Tourism Impact: Could draw more visitors, boost the region as a landmark point.

✅ Environmental & Landscape Value: The park component has ambition to preserve and showcase natural habitats.

✅ Art & Education: Offers art, sculpture, nature study, environmental awareness, potentially a museum under the statue.
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🌸 Final Thoughts

The Noble Peasant is more than a statue — it’s a statement. Embodied in bronze and rising above the hills of Kyrenia, it aims to celebrate the land, the heritage, and the ordinary people who built Cyprus. Though still a work in progress, the project already sparks conversation, identity, pride, and controversy. For travellers and locals alike, it’s one of the most anticipated landmarks of northern Cyprus.